Venetian blind tilt-bar support



INVENTORS ENSDN .a u Y v 4 .l 4

Jan. 2l, w47. .L NlsENsoN ET AL VENETIAN BLIND TILT BAR SUPPORT FiledJune 9, 1945 Patented Jan. 21, 1947 VENETIAN BLIND 'FELT-BAR SUPPORT.Fides Nisenson and Maurice N. Y., assignors to Publix New York, N.

Blazer, New York, Metal Products lino.,

Y., a corporation of New York Application June 9, 1945, Serial No.598,556

Claims.

This invention relates generally to the Venetian blind art and moreparticularly to a tilt-bar support therefor.

In accordance with the majority of Venetian blind constructions, theentire blind is carried by a head-bar which is in turn supported bybrackets attached to the window frame or other building opening withwhich the blind is associated. The slats, in an elevated positionthereof, are supported by cords which in turn depend from pulleysusually hidden within the head-bar. When the slats are in the loweredposition thereof, they are carried by slat supporting tapes and these inturn are connected at the upper ends thereof to the tilt-bar. It is forthis reason that the tiltbar needs to be relatively strong and thiscondition is increased in the case of those blinds which are relativelywide, that is to say, longitudinally of the tilt-bar. Where the blind isexceptionally wide, in order to preserve the shape and arrangement ofthe parts, it would be necessary to unduly increase the thickness of thetilt-bar with a consequently unfavorable elect upon the total appearanceof the blind. In order to provide additional support for the tilt-bar ata point or points between the terminals thereof, so-called centersupports are provided. Such supports movably position the tilt-bar withrespect to the head-bar.

Since in many blind constructions it is desirable that the tilt-bar beremovable as a unit from the brackets and the head-bar, it is desirablethat such tilt-bar center supports be likewise detachably connectable.

It is, therefore, among the principal objects of the present inventionto provide Venetian blind tilt-bar center support construction which isquickly and easily attached to the tilt-bar and to the head-bar.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the classdescribed, which is quickly and easily detachable. Such detachabilityfacilitates the removal of the tilt-bar from the headbar so that theblind may be cleaned, adjusted or refurbished.

Another object herein lies in the provision of Venetian Ablind tilt-barcenter support construction, which enables the tilt-bar to be rotatedaxially'v about the end pins thereof. It is desirable that such rotationmay occur without binding or any undue friction so that the Venetianblind may be tilted in the usual manner without excessive enort beingrequired.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a Venetian blind tilt-barcenter supporting de- (Cl. 1GO-177) vice, which is of simpleconstruction, largely wire forms or metal stampings, so that the samemay be manufactured in large scale production at 10W cost and have aconsequent wide sale and use.

These objects and other incidental ends and parts and advantages willmore fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed outin the appended claims,

In the drawing in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational View showing an embodimentof the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen fromthe plane 2-2 on Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken similarly to Figure 2 butshowing the parts in an altered position thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan View as seen from the plane 4-4 onFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view as seen from the plane 5 5 onFigure 2.

Figure 6 is an exploded view in perspective.

In accordance with the invention the device generally indicated byreference character I0, is associated with a head-bar II, and a tilt-barI2. The head-bar I I may be of the usual construction having tilt-barend support brackets I3,I only one of which is shown in the drawing, Thetiltbar i2 may be of standard construction and may be provided with endpins Ill (only one of which is shown) which are adapted to be rotatablyjournalled in the brackets I3, Any desired number of slats I5 (only oneof which is shown) may be carried by the tilt-bar I2, by the slatsupporting tape I6 (only one shown).

While the device I0 is referred to in the specification and claims as atilt-bar center support, it will be understood that the word center isused only loosely as it is in the trade, and that the support lil may belocated at any point or points desired between the actual endscorrespending to the end I I of the tilt-bar I2.

The device Ill includes four separatable parts, two of which areassembled to make up the headbar element I8, and the remaining two ofwhich' are assembled to make up the tilt-bar element i9.

The head-bar element IB includes a relatively stationary track member 2Gand a relatively movable hook member 2i. The track member is preferablyformed by bending to the shape best seen in Figures 2 and 6, a strip offlat stock such as steel. The track member 20 includes an arcuatecentral portion 22 and has at the ends supports 23 and 24 is preferablysuch that sufy ficient space remains between the upper surface 25 of thearcuate portion 22 andthe under surface 3l to permit the track topengaging portion 26 to freely move along the arcuate track 20. `'l'.vhef normally upper ends of thesupports 23 and 24 are provided withoutwardly extending oriced tabs 2l and 23 which may be penetrated by thescrews 29 to secure the track member 2i) to the surface 3l of thehead-bar II. Wheredesired other securing means may be provided toconneet the vsupports 23 and 24 .to the head-bar. For example, thesupports 23 and 24 may be pro# vided with pointed ends," with or:without additional serrationsy and maybe directlyrdriven into theVhead-bar inthe manner of a large staple.

The movable hook member 2i maybe 'suitably bent to the` shapel shown'inthe drawing from wire stock. The upper portion of the lhook member 2|--includes the track top engaging portion `previously -referred to, trackside. engaging portions 32 and 33, the track bottom engaging portions 34and 35, thevertically arranged connecting portion 35 and the hookportion 3l. The hook portion 3'1V preferably has the terminal 38 thereofarranged generally in an upwarddirection so that the generally D-shaped`ring 39 maybe engaged withthe hook-portion by movement in asubstantiallyA downward or angularly downward direction. f I

' The tilt-barfelernent generally indicated by reference character I9includes `the' D-Shaped ring V:i9 and the vmounting plate 40. The D-yshaped ring 39 includes a rectilinear axle portion 4I joined at theends thereof to theends of the arcuate portion 42. The D ring 39 may beof one pieceor may have a pair lof juxtaposed terminals located`p-referablyvin 'the center of the axle portion 4I.` The mounting plate.49 includes a central bearing portion 43 which is preferably roundedVand has a relatively internal channel 44 the size of which issubstantially equal to or slightly greater than the cross sectional sizeof the axle portion 4i of the ring l39. Extending outwardly from thebearing portion 43 are the mounting 'flanges 45 and 45. These flangesmay be provided with orifices 4l through which the screwsv 48 may securethe mounting plate 4U to the 'upper surface 49 ofthe tilt-bar I2. Thedistance betweenthe front andrear edges 54 and 5I respectively of themounting plate 40 is substantially less than thedistance between thepoints 52 andf53, said points engaging the ends of the axle portion 4Iand the arcuate portion 42. This size of the mounting plate `4i! withvrespect to the length of the axle-portion 4I .permitsfthering .39 toshift longitudinally-of Isaid axle portion and byvirtue of thefact thatthe channel 44 is of sufcient Size thel ring 39 may not only movelongitudinally of the axleVA portion 42,A lbut may move pivotallyaboutsaid axle portion. w' Y A's wellknown inthe art to which the presentinvention relatesvarious tilt-barthicknesses are used and also variousdistances'betweenthe tilt-.bar 'and the head-bar are used.. TheV sizespins I4.

4 and arrangement of the parts are such, however, that when assembled asshown the arcuate portion 42 of the ring 39 and the arcuate portion 22of the ring track member 29, are arcuate with respect to the centrallongitudinal axis of rotation of the tilt-bar I2, passing through theAlso, the front and rearv surfaces 54 and 553 respectively have aradiusof curvature at leasty equal to the radius of curvature from thecentral longitudinal axis of the tilt-bar I2. As shown in the drawingthe front and rear surfaceslt and Bernay be even more acutely curveddepending upon the aesthetic effect desired. The lower surface of thearcuate portion 22 is disposed at av distance from the centrallongitudinal axis ofrotation of the tilt-bar I2 at least equal to .butpreferably slightly greater than the wise asjviewed in .Figure 3,; thetilt-bar isjisupev distance between said axis and the front surface vE54or the rear surface 55 at their greatest distances from said center, oraxis.

Assembly of .the parts with Veachv otherl l"and with'. 'the Venetian'`blind components is a rapid and convenient matter. At some`predetermined location on the head-barv I I and at a corresponding.location on theftilt-bar "I2 the head-'barlele--' ment i I and rthetilt 'barV element i 9 vare `attached to ltheir respective Venetian:blind i' components. Beforethe: screws ZQ-Iare-.inserte'd the normallyupper portion of the hook member ZV-isfslip'ped upon the .arcuateportion`22 vofthe track member 20; Similarly before the screws48areins'erted the axle'portion `4lfof fthe'fDring 3B isplaced withinthechannel 44. 1 f' f-l Y When the tilt-bar |2- is placedwithinltnebrackets ISthe'D ring 39 may bevrotated suffi#Y ciently so Vthat itmaybe engagedwith the-.hook portion3'll of the' hook 'member 2 -I,`"therelatively loosemountingofthe hook member- 2I on the track member 29facilitatingthis operation.-v` Y f It may -be noted at this point thatthe installation of the mounting plate 49 on the upper "sur: face 49provides a connection with jthe tilt-bail without any yrouting of the`'tilt-bar being re`` quired.V

As assembled and withv ther tilt-barA and the slats in `horizontalpositions, the parts may take the position as indicated in Figure 2.fUponactuation of the tilting mechanism (not shown) in a direction tocause the forward surface 54"of the {tilt-bar I2 to move arcuatelydownwardly about the longitudinal axis of the ytilt-bar I2, the arcuateportion 4 2 maybe movedfin'afclo'ckwise direction as viewed in Figure,2untiljthe point 52,Y that is the juncture of the axle portion 4I of thearcuate `portion 4 2lengages the hook portion 3l Vat whichftime .thelhook member 2`I becomes shifted'to the right as viewed in Figure 2.continued 'rotation of tlietnt-bar'inthe direction last described(clockwise. as viewed in Figure 2) will. resultin'the parts takingthefposition kindicated in 'Figure 3, wherein it-.will be noted that theDv ring 39 has shifted. rearward-A ly or .upwardly as viewed .in Figure3, so :that the'4 front edge 50 engages the juncture-point 53 at theforwardendofthe 1D ring. 133.y

. WhenV it is desiredto rotate the tilt-bar I2 in the oppositedirection,` that is, counter clock-- ported through the medium. of. thehook 2l gby thecurved portion of the vring -39 until theposii tion`shown by the Vdot `dash .lines infliigurei' is reached wherein it willbe noted that thefring 39 has shifted. longitudinally withrespectto theaxle VportionrAI.4 yIn this positionl thepointof juncture 52 is inengagement with the rear surface 5| of the mounting plate 40.

While there is a tendency for the hook member 2|, in reaching a positionof equilibrium to tilt so it is radially disposed with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the tilt-bar the vertically downward pull of thetilt-bar and the parts suspended therefrom tend to maintain the hookmember 2| in a susbtantially vertical position. Thus for example withthe parts in a position indicated by the full lines in Figure 3, uponrotation of the tilt-bar in a counter clockwise direction as viewed inFigure 3, the hook 2l will tend to remain in the forward portion of thestationary track member 20. Thus the hook member would tend to remain inthe position shown by the dot dash lines on Figure 2 where it will beseen that the resultant of forces will be exerted to move the D ringforwardly or to the right as shown in Figure 2. Continued counterclockwise rotation of the tilt-bar causes complete shifting of the Dring to its forwardmost position and the shifting of the hook member 2lto its rearmost position, whereby these parts take the position shown bythe dot dash lines in Figure 3. Under some conditions the hook willshift first, followed by the shifting of the D ring.

It may thus be seen that we have disclosed a novel and useful Venetianblind tilt-.bar support which is adapted to detachably and movablyinterconnect the tilt-bar at any desired position thereof with therelatively stationary head-bar. By virtue of the fact that there are twomovable parts, one movably associated with the head-bar and the othermovably associated with the tilt-bar, said parts may shift with respectto each other and with respect to the head-bar and tilt-bar so thatsubstantial conditions of equilibrium may obtain as the tilt-bar isrotated through substantially 180. The parts of our device are simple inconstruction and light in weight and may be easily assembled without anyspecial skill. Where desired a plurality of my devices may be used on asingle long blind and by virtue of the fact that the tilt-bar does nothave to be routed as is done in accordance with prior art constructions,a tilt-bar having a vertical thickness as viewed in Figure 2, ofsubstantially one half of the normal, may be utilized with substantiallythe same strength characterf istics.

The articulate nature of the connection between the tilt-bar and thehead-bar provided by ourrdevice not only provides for proper support,but also enables the parts to be easily disconnected and reconnectedwhen the blind is disassembled for cleaning or painting, or for otherpurposes.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to theexact detalls of construction shown and described, for obviousmodications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar comprising:a head-bar element; and a tilt-bar element; said head-bar elementincluding a stationary track member, and a movable hook member on saidtrack member; said tilt-bar element including a mounting plate, and anorificed member movably connected to said mounting plate; whereby whenthe tilt-bar is rotated with respect to the head-bar, the hook membermay move along the track member and along the oriced member, and theoriiiced member may move with respect to the mounting plate.

2. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support ior use with a head-bar and atilt-bar, said support comprising: a head-bar element adapted to besecured to said head-bar; a tilt-bar element adapted to be secured tosaid tilt-bar and having a mounting plate and a movable oriiiced memberconnected thereto; and means slidably connected to said oriced memberand to said head-bar element.

3. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar and atilt-bar, said support comprising: a head-bar element adapted to besecured to said head-bar; and a tilt-bar element adapted to be securedto said tilt-bar and including an oriced member movable in at least twodirections with respect to said tilt-bar.

4. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar and atilt-bar, said support comprising: a track member adapted to be securedto said head-bar; a tilt-bar member having a curved portion and an axleportion connected to said curved portion; means to pivotly and slidablymount said axle portion on said tilt-bar; and link means movablyconnected to said track and to said curved portion.

5. A Venetian blind tilt-bar support for use with a head-bar and atilt-bar, said support comprising: a head-bar element including astationary curved track having a pair of supports at the ends thereof,said supports being adapted to maintain the track in spaced relationwith respect to the head-bar, said supports being adapted to be securedto the head-bar; a tilt-bar element including a D shaped ring having acurved portion and an axle portion, and a mounting plate, said mountingplate being adapted to engage said axle portion and to pivotly andslidably mount the same upon a tilt-bar; and link means slidablyengaging said track and said curved portion.

JULES NISENSON. MAURICE BLAZER,

